At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season Four concrete 2026 spike windows in an otherwise good-value month: Bonfire Night week Wed Nov 4 - Sun Nov 8 (Battersea Park + neighbourhood displays + Diwali on the Square Sun Nov 8 attendees ~35,000 at Trafalgar Square + Remembrance Sunday at Cenotaph 11am with HM The King); EFG London Jazz Festival Fri Nov 13 - Sun Nov 22 (60+ venues; Coltrane 100 tribute + Melody Gardot + Fatoumata Diawara + Samara Joy); Lord Mayor 698th Show Sat Nov 14 (Gold State Coach, 7,000 participants, City of London arterial roads closed 10am-4pm); Royal Variety Performance Fri Nov 20 at Royal Albert Hall (99th edition; secondary market £150-450). Christmas at Kew opens Fri Nov 13 (£61 adult). Hyde Park Winter Wonderland expected open mid-Nov (Visit London not confirmed as of May 2026). Black Friday Fri Nov 27 + Black Friday Week from Sat Nov 21. 2026 TfL: Zone 1-2 daily cap £8.90 from Mar 1 (was £8.10); bus single £1.75. NOTE: Alexandra Palace fireworks moved to Halloween weekend Fri Oct 30 + Sat Oct 31 NOT Bonfire Night itself; State Opening of Parliament was Wed May 13 2026 NOT November.
London in November 2026 — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
London in November offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for bonfire night, lord mayor + royal variety visitors. Expect temperatures of 4–12°C, around 15 days of rain, and low–medium crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around £65–900+ for mid-range travellers. Rooms are easy to find last-minute and hotel prices stay noticeably softer through the season.
Contents15 sections
#Weather & Climate
November averages 9-12°C highs early month dropping to 7-10°C late; lows 4-6°C per UK Met Office Heathrow normals.
Grey, overcast days frequent; rainfall ~59mm across 15 wet days (one of the wetter months).
Fog on the Thames possible, particularly in mornings around the City + South Bank.
Sunrise climbs from 7:00am Nov 1 to 7:43am Nov 30 GMT; sunset drops from 4:35pm Nov 1 to 3:55pm Nov 30 (DST ended Sun Oct 25, 2026; November is fully GMT).
Wind less extreme than March but temperatures feel colder than the thermometer suggests (humidity ~86%). Dress for genuine cold + waterproof conditions.
November is one of London's cheapest months to visit after October peak and before December Christmas surge: significant value for visitors willing to pack thermals.
Local tip: November daylight is at the year's lowest outside winter solstice week (Dec 21). With sunrise after 7:30am and sunset around 4pm by month-end, plan outdoor activities for 10am-3pm; shift museums + theatres + cosy pub afternoons to the 3-7pm window when daylight has gone. London's signature November mood is the 4-5pm transition from grey daylight to gold streetlight against the early dark, particularly photogenic along the Thames + South Bank.
#Top Activities
Bonfire Night Thu Nov 5, 2026
Guy Fawkes Night commemorates the foiling of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot. Britain's most distinctive autumn celebration with fireworks displays across the entire country (often spilling into the surrounding Fri-Sun weekend window).
Major London ticketed events 2026:
- Alexandra Palace Fireworks & Drone Festival runs Fri Oct 30 + Sat Oct 31, 2026 (Halloween-themed format, NOT Bonfire Night itself per 2026 programme correction). Adults £18 / children £12 / young child £6.50. Drone display + Victorian Theatre ghost tour + Great Hall bierkeller
- Battersea Park Fireworks Sat + Sun early November (fireworks at 8.30pm Sat, 7pm Sun). Adults £14.20 / children £9.50. Thames cruise add-on available
- Wimbledon Park + Victoria Park + Crystal Palace + Lambeth fireworks: neighbourhood-level events typically Sat Nov 7
Free alternatives (multiple displays visible simultaneously):
- Parliament Hill (Hampstead Heath) = highest natural vantage in Zone 2
- Greenwich Park (Observatory Hill) = elevated south-east view
- Alexandra Palace front terrace = panoramic north
- Primrose Hill historically CLOSED for crowd safety Bonfire Night week (do not assume open)
Common-mistake callout: Showing up at Alexandra Palace expecting a Nov 5 fireworks display. The 2026 Alexandra Palace event runs Oct 30-31 weekend (Halloween-themed); for Nov 5 itself, choose Battersea Park (Sat) or one of the smaller neighbourhood displays.
Remembrance Sunday Sun Nov 8 + Armistice Day Wed Nov 11
National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, Whitehall at 11am on Sunday November 8, 2026. Two-minute silence at 11am + march past of ~10,000 veterans + military bands.
HM The King leads with senior members of the royal family. Procession concludes ~1:30pm.
Free, no tickets/passes required. Arrive by 9:30am for a viewing position behind the barriers along Whitehall.
Armistice Day Wed Nov 11, 2026 = the actual anniversary of WWI ending (11am 11/11/1918). National observance of two-minute silence at 11am wherever the public are.
Royal British Legion poppy appeal runs through Oct-Nov; red paper poppies sold by charity sellers + post offices, minimum donation £1.
Common-mistake callout: Talking during the 11am two-minute silence on Remembrance Sunday OR Armistice Day. The silence is observed nationwide; trains stop, broadcast pauses, the entire country falls quiet for 2 minutes. Talking through it is considered deeply disrespectful. If you're in public at 11am, stop and observe.
Lord Mayor's Show Sat Nov 14, 2026 (698th Edition)
The Lord Mayor's Show is one of London's oldest civic traditions: 698 years of consecutive Lord Mayors processing through the City of London.
Saturday November 14, 2026. Procession sets off from Mansion House at 11am → St Paul's Cathedral (~11:13am) → Royal Courts of Justice (~11:26am) via Cheapside + Fleet Street; returns via Victoria Embankment + Queen Victoria Street.
Three-mile route.
Show details:
- 7,000 participants in the procession
- 70 floats including the historic Gold State Coach carrying the new Lord Mayor of London
- 20 marching bands
- Free public viewing from Cheapside + Ludgate Hill + Fleet Street + Royal Courts of Justice frontage
- Show runs ~11am-3:30pm
Local tip: Position yourself on Cheapside between St Mary-le-Bow Church and Bread Street (10:30am arrival) for the closest viewing of the Gold State Coach at the procession's slowest point.
Ludgate Hill offers the iconic St Paul's-Cathedral-backdrop shot but fills earliest.
Royal Courts of Justice frontage on Strand sees the procession at its return-leg slowdown around 1:30pm: quietest viewing window if you missed the early start.
Diwali on the Square Sun Nov 8, 2026 (Trafalgar Square)
Diwali in London 2026 falls Sunday November 8 (Year of the Sheep/Goat per Tue Feb 6, 2027 = Chinese Lunar New Year; Diwali calculations are separate from Chinese calendar, but the 2026 dates align).
Diwali on the Square at Trafalgar Square is London's largest celebration with ~35,000 attendees, free, typically 1pm-9pm (specific 2026 hours announced ~October via diwaliinlondon.com).
Programming includes:
- Opening dance with 200 dancers (typically South Asian classical + Bollywood fusion)
- South Asian food stalls (vegan/vegetarian options)
- Activity zones: Kids' zone, Sari & Turban (try-on + purchase), Comedy, Culture, Yoga & Meditation
- Henna art + face painting
- BAPS Hindu Mandir Neasden temple separate celebrations (Britain's largest Hindu temple; free access during festival week)
Common-mistake callout: Arriving at Trafalgar Square after 4pm and expecting easy access.
Peak attendance is 4-7pm with security capacity controls; arrive by 2pm for unhurried browsing or after 7pm for closing programme.
EFG London Jazz Festival Fri Nov 13 - Sun Nov 22, 2026
The EFG London Jazz Festival 2026 is one of Europe's biggest jazz events: 60+ venues across 10 days including Barbican, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Ronnie Scott's, Cadogan Hall, Kings Place, Wigmore Hall, Pizza Express Jazz Club, Vortex Jazz Club.
Confirmed 2026 programme highlights:
- Opening Gala "Jazz Voice" Fri Nov 13 at the Barbican
- Coltrane 100 tribute Fri Nov 13 with Joe Lovano + Melissa Aldana + Nduduzo Makhathini + Linda May Han Oh + Jeff "Tain" Watts
- Melody Gardot Mon Nov 16
- Fatoumata Diawara Wed Nov 18
- Samara Joy Sun Nov 22
- Ben Folds + Morcheeba + Lizz Wright + Cécile McLorin Salvant + Anouar Brahem all confirmed
Ticket pricing £15-95 per show depending on venue + artist. Pass options for multi-show bookings via efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk.
Royal Variety Performance Fri Nov 20, 2026 (99th Edition)
99th Royal Variety Performance Fri Nov 20, 2026 at the Royal Albert Hall. Doors 6pm, show 7:30pm.
Royal Command Performance in aid of the Royal Variety Charity (supporting elderly + financially-struggling members of the entertainment profession).
Royals traditionally attend (King and/or Queen). Variety bill of comedy, music, magic, dance, theatrical excerpts.
Tickets went on sale Fri Feb 27, 2026: by November secondary market or limited returns. Resale tier typically £150-450.
Christmas at Kew Opens Fri Nov 13, 2026
Christmas at Kew at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew opens Fri Nov 13, 2026 (covered in detail in the December guide as it runs through Sun Jan 3, 2027).
Anytime adult tickets from £61 via kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/christmas.
NEW for 2026: adult-only evenings Wed Dec 3 + Wed Dec 9 but the November opening weeks are family-friendly with general access.
The opening Fri Nov 13 - Sat Nov 14 weekend is the year's lowest-crowd window at Kew Christmas before the December surge.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Opens Mid-November 2026
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2026 opens mid-November (exact 2026 dates announced August; estimate Fri Nov 13, 2026 - Sun Jan 3, 2027 based on historical patterns; Visit London not officially confirmed as of May 2026).
Entry timed-ticket: free off-peak / £5 standard / £7.50+ peak via hydeparkwinterwonderland.com. November is the lowest-crowd window: entry queues 15-30 minutes vs 60+ in December peak. Full attraction roster (Magical Ice Kingdom + Cirque Berserk + ice rink + Bavarian markets) detailed in #50 December guide.
Christmas Lights Switch-Ons
Oxford Street Christmas lights typically launch first Mon of November (estimated Mon Nov 2, 2026) running through Sun Jan 4, 2027.
Regent Street "Spirit of Christmas" angels (30 angels / 300,000+ LED bulbs) typically Thu first/second week of November.
Carnaby Street runs themed installation annually (2025 was "All is Bright"; 2026 theme not yet announced as of May).
Christmas walking circuit: Start at Liberty London's window displays → Carnaby Street → New Bond Street (luxury brand decorations) → Regent Street → Oxford Circus → Covent Garden → Seven Dials → Leicester Square.
60-90 minutes; best 4:30-7pm before crowds peak at 7-9pm.
Game Season Peak
November is the heart of British game season: grouse, pheasant, partridge, venison all on menus at their peak.
St. JOHN (Smithfield) is the definitive destination for game cooked in the British tradition (Fergus Henderson's nose-to-tail temple); mains £22-32, book 4-6 weeks ahead.
Rules in Covent Garden (oldest restaurant in London, est. 1798) for game pies + traditional British seasonal cooking £50-80 per person.
The Cinnamon Club Westminster for Indian-spiced game preparations.
#Food & Dining
November is London's most underrated dining month. Game-season menus combine with the launch of every restaurant's Christmas tasting + festive special menus. Cheaper accommodation costs offset slightly higher restaurant pricing.
Fortnum & Mason food hall (Piccadilly) launches its Christmas food hall in November: hampers (£100-£10,000), specialist preserves, teas in beautiful tins, Christmas chocolates.
Their afternoon tea in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon runs £85-95 per person (book 8-12 weeks ahead).
Sketch Mayfair (the Gallery room with pink padded walls + David Shrigley artwork): uniquely suited to November evenings.
Mains £28-45.
Ottolenghi (multiple locations) shifts to root vegetables, pomegranate, and warming spices in November menu.
Pellicci on Bethnal Green Road (Italian café since 1900; cash only, under £10) is a November-comfort-food institution.
Ronnie Scott's Soho jazz club doubles as a dinner venue during the EFG London Jazz Festival.
Mid-November launches "office Christmas party" season: most central London restaurants run set party menus £35-75 per person for groups of 8+ from Sat Nov 14 onwards through mid-December.
#Nightlife
November's indoor arts life is fully operational. The West End has its full autumn programme; book early for Christmas-period shows that will sell out in December. Stranger Things The First Shadow + MJ The Musical + Tina + Mamma Mia! + The Lion King + Hamilton + Six all running.
Ronnie Scott's Soho is particularly atmospheric on dark November evenings, and is one of the EFG London Jazz Festival venues during Nov 13-22.
Barbican Centre winter programme launches with major classical music, theatre, film. BBC Symphony Orchestra programming through November. Cinema programming has its strongest curated season of the year.
Comedy clubs run strong November bills: Soho Theatre, Top Secret Comedy Club (Covent Garden), 99 Club Leicester Square.
The Glenmore Hotel at The Rocks rooftop (Australian-themed but central London location) has its best view of the early-dusk Thames + Tower Bridge from 4-6pm.
#Shopping
Christmas shopping begins in earnest from mid-November.
Oxford Street + Regent Street lights switched on early November: the switch-on ceremonies themselves are free but very crowded; the Wed evening after switch-on is the calmest viewing window.
Harrods launches its Christmas shop from November 1 (genuinely extraordinary; worth seeing even if you don't buy anything). Boxing Day Sat Dec 26 sales preview crews already scouting prizes from mid-November.
Marylebone High Street boutiques = considered shopping, less frantic than Oxford Street. Daunt Books, La Fromagerie, Vagabond Wine.
Christmas market at Southbank Centre Winter Market begins early November (free entry; mulled wine £6-9, bratwurst £8-12, hot chocolate £5-7; runs through early January per #50 December coverage).
Black Friday Fri Nov 27, 2026 + Cyber Monday Mon Nov 30, 2026: "Black Friday Week" Sat Nov 21 - Sun Nov 30 across Currys + AO.com + John Lewis + Amazon UK + Selfridges + Liberty London. UK retail extends to "Black November" from early month.
Common-mistake callout: Treating Black Friday as the year's biggest sales day in London.
Boxing Day Sat Dec 26 remains the year's biggest single-day sales event for in-store fashion + homewares + electronics. Use Black Friday for online tech + early Christmas-gift shopping; save in-store browsing for Boxing Day.
#Culture & Etiquette
- Remembrance Sunday Sun Nov 8, 2026: the two-minute silence at 11am is observed nationwide. Stop talking, stand still, lower the volume if music's playing.
Talking through it = deeply disrespectful
- Armistice Day Wed Nov 11, 2026: same observance at 11am
- Bonfire Night Thu Nov 5: specifically British tradition (1605 Gunpowder Plot foiling). Fireworks legal for private sale; many gardens have private displays
- The poppy: red paper poppies worn throughout October and November in remembrance of war dead. Available from charity sellers + post offices, minimum donation £1
- Office party season: from mid-November, Friday evenings in central London pubs become significantly rowdier. Avoid Soho + Mayfair + Liverpool Street 6-10pm on Fridays if you want a quiet drink
- Christmas atmosphere builds gradually: November = early-Christmas window with all decorations + lights up but without the full December crowd density
- Tipping: 12.5% service charge often included; 10% if not. Check the bill
- British weather complaint culture is real and appreciated: "Bit grim out, isn't it?" or "Properly miserable today" are correct conversational ice-breakers
#Essential Local Phrases
British English packs a few words American visitors won't immediately recognise. These are the ones you'll hear constantly.
| What you want to say | What Londoners say |
|---|---|
| The subway / metro | The Tube |
| An umbrella | A brolly |
| Standing in line | Queueing |
| The bathroom / restroom | The loo |
| Underpants | Pants (so say "trousers" for the leg garment) |
| Sneakers | Trainers |
| A sweater / pullover | A jumper |
| A cookie | A biscuit |
| Dessert (any kind) | Pudding |
| Two weeks | A fortnight |
| A cup of tea | A cuppa |
| Public holiday | A bank holiday |
| Remembrance poppy phrase | Lest We Forget |
| Bonfire Night greeting | Remember Remember the 5th of November |
#Essential Local Phrases
British English packs a few words American visitors won't immediately recognise. These are the ones you'll hear constantly.
| What you want to say | What Londoners say |
|---|---|
| The subway / metro | The Tube |
| An umbrella | A brolly |
| Standing in line | Queueing |
| The bathroom / restroom | The loo |
| Underpants | Pants (so say "trousers" for the leg garment) |
| Sneakers | Trainers |
| A sweater / pullover | A jumper |
| A cookie | A biscuit |
| Dessert (any kind) | Pudding |
| Two weeks | A fortnight |
| A cup of tea | A cuppa |
| Public holiday | A bank holiday |
#Getting Around
Heathrow: Piccadilly line £6.70 peak / £5.60 off-peak with Oyster or contactless (50 min); Heathrow Express £25 (15 min); Elizabeth line to Paddington £12-13 (35 min).
Gatwick Express to Victoria £19.90 (30 min); Thameslink £10-17.
Stansted Express to Liverpool Street £19.40.
Luton to St Pancras via Thameslink £17-22.
2026 TfL fares (carried from #50 December):
- Zone 1-2 daily cap £8.90 (up from £8.10 effective Mar 1, 2026)
- 7-day cap £44.70 (up from £40.70)
- Single Bus journey £1.75 (Hopper fare = unlimited bus changes within 60 min)
- Oyster or contactless both work; contactless mobile payment recommended (no Oyster deposit, automatic daily cap)
Overground network particularly good in November for above-ground views of the autumn landscape (Hampstead Heath via Hampstead, Crystal Palace via Crystal Palace, Greenwich + Rotherhithe via London Overground).
Special November transport notes:
- Bonfire Night Thu Nov 5: Battersea Park surrounding bus diversions from 6pm
- Remembrance Sunday Nov 8: Whitehall + Trafalgar Square road closures 8am-2pm; allow extra time crossing Westminster bridges
- Lord Mayor's Show Sat Nov 14: City of London arterial roads closed 10am-4pm; Tube + walking only between Liverpool Street, Bank, St Paul's, Mansion House, Blackfriars
- EFG London Jazz Festival venues spread across 60+: multiple Tube interchanges; Overground useful for Hackney + Vortex + Cafe OTO
#Packing List
- Warm winter coat with hood (November evenings genuinely cold; rainproof essential)
- Scarf, gloves, and hat from the second week onwards
- Waterproof boots or shoes with grip (wet pavements + stone steps slippery)
- Compact umbrella + portable rain poncho for sudden squalls
- Thermal underlayers for outdoor events (Bonfire Night, Remembrance Sunday standing for 2+ hours)
- Layers for inside (museums warm, streets cold; expect to take coat on/off frequently)
- Smart outfit for theatre, EFG Jazz Festival, or office party circuit
- Power bank (cold drains phone batteries 30-40% faster)
- Contactless mobile payment loaded (works on Tube without needing Oyster card)
- Red poppy (buy on arrival from any London charity seller; minimum donation £1; appropriate to wear throughout October and November)
- Christmas-Lights walking guide (download Visit London's free Christmas Lights map)
#Backup Plans (Rainy Days)
November rainy days call for long museum visits.
- British Museum (free) on a wet November weekday is as close to peaceful as it gets: Marble Galleries + Egyptian Mummies + Sutton Hoo
- Tate Britain (free) in Pimlico holds the world's largest collection of British art; the Clore Gallery's Turner rooms are exceptional in low winter light
- Tate Modern (free) in the converted Bankside Power Station; the Turbine Hall installation typically launches Oct-Nov
- Museum of London Docklands (free, Canary Wharf; the original Museum of London Barbican closed for relocation to West Smithfield, reopening late 2026) covers London's history from Roman times
- Natural History Museum (free, South Kensington); ice rink opens November sessions from £15
- V&A Museum of Design (free; the December Christmas tree commissioned annually from a different international designer is a highlight)
- The Wallace Collection at Hertford House (free; Frans Hals "Laughing Cavalier" + Louis-era French furniture); typically runs candlelit winter openings (check programme)
- Barbican Cinema + Arts Complex always excellent for film + classical music + theatre
- State Library equivalent: British Library (free permanent exhibits + paid temporary) near St Pancras; Magna Carta + Beatles manuscripts + Lindisfarne Gospels
#Budget & Costs
November is one of the cheapest months to visit London: significant value after October peak and before December Christmas surge. AUD-USD-EUR ≈ £1 = $1.25-1.30 USD in 2026.
Accommodation:
- Hostels (YHA, Generator, Wombat's): £20-40/night; total £60-85/day
- Budget 3-star (Premier Inn, Travelodge, Ibis): £85-150/night; total £130-220/day
- Mid-range 4-star (Hotel Indigo, Park Plaza): £160-280/night; total £230-360/day
- Luxury 5-star (Connaught, Claridge's, Savoy, Rosewood): £450-1,200/night
- Black Friday Week Nov 21-30 hotel deals: many central hotels +20-40% off published rates
Food & Dining:
- Hostel/food court: £8-15 per meal
- Café breakfast/lunch: £10-22
- Pub lunch with pint: £15-25
- Mid-range dinner: £25-45 per person
- Fine dining (St. JOHN, Rules, Sketch): £50-150 per person
Activities + Attractions:
- Bonfire Night ticketed events: £14-18 adult / £8-12 child
- Lord Mayor's Show: FREE
- Remembrance Sunday at Cenotaph: FREE
- Diwali on the Square: FREE
- Royal Variety Performance: secondary market £150-450
- EFG London Jazz Festival tickets: £15-95 per show
- Christmas at Kew: £61 adult anytime
- Hyde Park Winter Wonderland: £0-7.50 timed entry + £25-45 rides/food
- Natural History Museum ice rink: £15-30 per session
- Pint of beer: £6-8.50 (Wetherspoons cheaper at £4-5.50)
- Christmas market mulled wine: £6-9
Daily budget guide:
- Shoestring £65-100/day (USD $80-130)
- Mid-range £180-300/day (USD $225-375)
- Comfortable £400-650/day
- Luxury £900+/day
Local tip: Many West End theatres run Mid-Week Matinee Special pricing (~30-40% off) for Tuesday-Thursday afternoon shows; especially good value for November shoulder month before December Christmas surge.
TKTS booth Leicester Square (open 10am-7pm) offers same-day discount tickets for major productions.
#Safety & Health
Bonfire Night safety:
- Large crowds at organised events: keep children visible, agree meeting points
- Fireworks are loud: bring ear protection for young children or those sensitive to noise
- Private back-garden displays can be unsafe; consider whether to attend
- The week after Nov 5 sees increased emergency-room burn admissions; reflective clothing if cycling/walking near firework debris
November weather hazards:
- Fog on the Thames can reduce visibility significantly, particularly mornings around the City + South Bank
- Pavements slippery in wet weather; wear grip-soled shoes
- Wind chill on bridges + Embankment 2-3°C colder than reported temperature
Common-mistake callout: Underestimating how cold London November feels at outdoor events.
The thermometer reads 8°C but the combination of damp air + 86% humidity + 4pm sunset means standing still at the Lord Mayor's Show for 2-3 hours = much colder than equivalent dry-climate 8°C. Pack thermal underlayers + hand warmers for any November outdoor event.
Medical:
- NHS 111 (free telephone, non-emergency medical advice) operates 24/7
- NHS walk-in centres for colds + flu which circulate through November; bring vitamin C
- A&E departments do not close: University College Hospital (Euston Road), Royal London (Whitechapel), St Mary's (Paddington), St Thomas' (Westminster) all 24/7
- Emergency: 999
- Non-emergency police: 101
- Travel insurance: essential for international visitors; NHS A&E free at point of use for emergencies but elective treatment costs £200-3,000+ for non-residents
Tap water safe throughout.
#What's Changed for 2026/27 Travellers
- Alexandra Palace Fireworks 2026 moved to Halloween-themed weekend Fri Oct 30 + Sat Oct 31 (NOT Bonfire Night Thu Nov 5 itself); older guides assuming Alexandra Palace Bonfire Night are wrong for 2026
- State Opening of Parliament 2026 already happened Wed May 13, 2026 (NOT November): triggered by local-election results May 8, 2026; no November 2026 State Opening expected
- Royal Variety Performance Fri Nov 20, 2026 at the Royal Albert Hall: 99th edition (tickets went on sale Fri Feb 27, 2026 via Royal Variety Charity)
- EFG London Jazz Festival Fri Nov 13 - Sun Nov 22, 2026: 60+ venues, confirmed line-up includes Coltrane 100 tribute + Melody Gardot + Fatoumata Diawara + Samara Joy + Ben Folds + Morcheeba
- Lord Mayor's Show 698th edition Sat Nov 14, 2026 with Gold State Coach + 7,000 participants + 70 floats
- Tower of London "Tower Remembers" / Blood Swept Lands installation closed Nov 11, 2025 (80th anniversary of WWII end); no confirmed 2026 return
- Christmas at Kew opens Fri Nov 13, 2026 (covered in December guide); November opening weeks have lowest crowds of season
- Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2026 dates not yet officially confirmed (estimated Fri Nov 13 - Sun Jan 3, 2027 based on historical patterns); Visit London announcement typically late August
- Black Friday Fri Nov 27, 2026 + Cyber Monday Mon Nov 30 with "Black Friday Week" Sat Nov 21 - Sun Nov 30 across all major UK retailers
- 2026 TfL fares Zone 1-2 daily cap £8.90 (up from £8.10 from Mar 1, 2026); 7-day cap £44.70 (up from £40.70); bus single £1.75
- DST ended Sun Oct 25, 2026: November fully GMT (sunset 4:35pm Nov 1 → 3:55pm Nov 30)
- Museum of London original Barbican location closed for relocation to West Smithfield; reopening late 2026 (specific date TBC); Museum of London Docklands continues at Canary Wharf
#About This Guide
Written and updated by Harry Nara in May 2026. Bonfire Night 2026 events from Visit London Bonfire Night, Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival, and London Cheapo Battersea Park Fireworks 2026. Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph from Royal British Legion. Lord Mayor's Show 2026 from Lord Mayor's Show official. 2026 State Opening of Parliament correction from Wikipedia 2026 State Opening. Diwali on the Square 2026 from Diwali in London official. EFG London Jazz Festival 2026 line-up from EFG London Jazz Festival official + Barbican EFG 2026 First Wave announcement. Royal Variety Performance 2026 from West End Theatre RVP 2026 announcement. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland status from Visit London Winter Wonderland. Christmas at Kew dates from Kew Gardens Christmas. Oxford Street + Regent Street + Carnaby Christmas lights historical patterns from Londonist Christmas Lights Map. Black Friday 2026 from Awareness Days Black Friday. 2026 TfL fares from TfL new fares. Tower of London poppy installation 2025 from Time Out Tower of London Poppies coverage. November climate normals from UK Met Office Heathrow and Met Office London Weather forecast.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's happening in London in November 2026?
Bonfire Night Thu Nov 5, 2026 with ticketed events at Battersea Park (£14.20 adult / £9.50 child) + neighbourhood displays at Wimbledon Park, Victoria Park, Crystal Palace + free vantages at Parliament Hill, Greenwich Park (NOTE: Alexandra Palace fireworks moved to Halloween weekend Fri Oct 30 + Sat Oct 31, NOT Nov 5 itself). Remembrance Sunday Sun Nov 8 at the Cenotaph (HM The King leads; 2-minute silence at 11am; arrive 9:30am). Armistice Day Wed Nov 11 (national 11am silence). Diwali on the Square Sun Nov 8 at Trafalgar Square (~35,000 attendees, free). EFG London Jazz Festival Fri Nov 13 - Sun Nov 22 (60+ venues; Coltrane 100 tribute + Melody Gardot + Fatoumata Diawara + Samara Joy + Ben Folds + Morcheeba). Lord Mayor's Show Sat Nov 14 (698th edition, Gold State Coach, 7,000 participants, 70 floats). Christmas at Kew opens Fri Nov 13 (£61 adult). Royal Variety Performance Fri Nov 20 at Royal Albert Hall (99th edition). Black Friday Fri Nov 27 + Black Friday Week from Sat Nov 21. NOTE: State Opening of Parliament was Wed May 13, 2026 (NOT November 2026).
How do I see the Lord Mayor's Show 2026?
Sat Nov 14, 2026 is the 698th edition. Procession sets off Mansion House 11am, passes St Paul's ~11:13am, reaches Royal Courts of Justice ~11:26am via Cheapside + Fleet Street. Return route via Victoria Embankment + Queen Victoria Street. 3-mile route, 7,000 participants, 70 floats, 20 bands, Gold State Coach carrying the new Lord Mayor. Show runs ~11am-3:30pm. Free public viewing. Best positions: Cheapside between St Mary-le-Bow Church and Bread Street (10:30am arrival) for closest Gold State Coach view; Ludgate Hill for iconic St Paul's-backdrop shot (fills earliest); Royal Courts of Justice frontage on Strand for return-leg slowdown around 1:30pm (quietest).
What's Diwali on the Square 2026 like?
Sun Nov 8, 2026 at Trafalgar Square, London's largest Diwali celebration. Free entry, ~35,000 attendees, typically 1pm-9pm. Opening with 200 dancers, South Asian food stalls (vegan/vegetarian), activity zones: Kids', Sari & Turban try-on, Comedy, Culture, Yoga & Meditation, henna art, face painting. Separate celebrations at BAPS Hindu Mandir Neasden (Britain's largest Hindu temple). Peak attendance 4-7pm with security capacity controls; arrive by 2pm for unhurried browsing or after 7pm for closing programme.
How have London prices changed for 2026/27?
2026 TfL fares up Mar 1, 2026: Zone 1-2 daily cap £8.90 (was £8.10); 7-day cap £44.70 (was £40.70); bus single £1.75 (Hopper fare allows unlimited bus changes within 60 min). November is one of the cheapest months to visit London (between October peak and December Christmas surge); budget hostels £20-40/night; mid-range 3-star £85-150/night; luxury 5-star £450-1,200/night. Black Friday Week Sat Nov 21 - Sun Nov 30 brings 20-40% off published hotel rates. Christmas at Kew adult anytime £61. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland entry timed-ticket £0-7.50 (rides separate £25-45 additional). EFG London Jazz Festival tickets £15-95 per show.
What’s the weather like in London in November?
London in November typically sees temperatures of 4–12°C with around 15 days of rain across the period. Pack warm layers, a waterproof coat, and sturdy shoes — days stay chilly.